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MONKEY MADE

Understand the difference between natural and people-made objects.

Materials

• Monkey Made (PDF)
• Pen/pencil
• Pad of paper

Directions

1. Discuss the concepts of natural and people-made with your child. Explain to him that items found in nature, such as a tree, are natural. Items that are created by people, such as a chair, are people-made. Explain that people-made items are made of parts.
2. Print out the Monkey Made (PDF). Read the instructions at the top of the page aloud. Direct your child to complete the activity. Once he has finished the activity, review the answers together.
3. Tell your child that people can build things of all sizes, from small to big. Point out the images of the paper airplane and the chair in Monkey Made. Ask him which he thinks is bigger (chair).
4. Explain that the size of an object affects how it is used and who can use it. To prove this point, bring in a small sock of his. Place one of your socks next to it. Have him put on his sock while you put on your sock. Next, switch socks. Your child will see that you can't quite fit into his sock and his feet don't fit that well in yours.
5. Look back at the pictures of the paper airplane and chair. Could George sit on the chair? (yes) Could George get in the paper airplane? (no) What else around your house is people-made?

Take It Further

Help your child understand the concepts of smaller and bigger.

• Choose a base object such as a block. Have your child find 3 objects smaller than the block and 3 objects bigger than the block.
• Can the same object be built in different sizes? (Yes). Compare identical or similar objects of difference sizes. (ideas: teaspoon and tablespoon, small and large blocks, small and large ball, etc.)